Midseason Grades for Each Golden State Warriors Player
The Golden State Warriors are approaching the halfway point of the 2016-17 NBA season with a historic offense and ruthless efficiency.
The height of their superpowers has yet to be realized and still they're clobbering opponents like prime Mike Tyson. The Warriors hold the league's top spots in winning percentage (.842) and net efficiency (plus-11.4) while sporting the highest offensive rating ever recorded (116.1).
But not everything is coming up roses: Golden State's resume lacks many signature wins. It's 0-5 against the Cleveland Cavaliers, San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets and Memphis Grizzlies, and it's been clunky in crunch time.
That shouldn't be surprising given the sweeping changes this roster has witnessed over the past calendar year. Yet even amid these hiccups, the Dubs are dominating like no one else.
Near the midseason point, it's becoming clearer which players are exceeding expectations and who is falling short. All 15, presented in ascending order of importance, are evaluated here using both subjective (eye test, expectations vs. reality) and objective (traditional stats and advanced analytics) measures.
15-11: Deep Reserves
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15. Damian Jones, C
For the second consecutive season, Golden State has a rookie getting the NBA's version of a medical redshirt. Damian Jones, slowed out of the gate by an offseason pectoral tear, has made a single, scoreless appearance for the Dubs. But the athletic 6'10" center has been able to get some seasoning in the NBA Development League, where he's averaged 6.8 rebounds and 6.4 points over 13 outings.
Grade: Incomplete
14. Anderson Varejao, C
There's a reason Anderson Varejao occupies one of the Warriors' roster spots. But it seemingly has nothing to do with the 34-year-old's on-court ability. He's only seen action in nine games, misfiring on six of his eight field-goal attempts and nearly matching his assists (seven) with turnovers (six).
Grade: D-
13. James Michael McAdoo, PF
The longer James Michael McAdoo has been with the Warriors, the less intriguing he's become. His minutes average has decreased each of the past two seasons (from 9.1 as a rookie to 5.9), and all offensive development has stalled. He's managed just 17 points (on 40 percent shooting) and fewer assists (three) than turnovers (four) or fouls (five) in 83 minutes.
Grade: D
12. Kevon Looney, PF
Hey, look: an actual rotation player—sort of. Kevon Looney doesn't always see the floor, but he gets the call more often than not. The 6'9" sophomore is more like an NBA rookie, since his actual freshman campaign consisted of only five outings sandwiched between hip surgeries. But the good news is the 20-year-old doesn't look like a novice when he steps between the lines.
"He's just a guy who has a good feel for the game," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said, per Bay Area News Group's Carl Steward. "He's a good rebounder and understands NBA defense. ... He just does a good, solid job out there."
With Golden State seeking championship redemption, a "good, solid job" only goes so far. While Looney hasn't been able to tap into his offensive arsenal yet, he deserves some credit for carving out a useful role as an energetic big (10.5 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per 36 minutes).
Grade: C
11. JaVale McGee, C
JaVale McGee only had a training camp invite, but he has since secured both a roster spot and an actual (near) nightly role. When he stays within himself—he's still prone to a Shaqtin' a Fool blunder here or there—he can make an impact as a human pogo stick. He feasts on point-blank chances (career-high 64.8 percent shooting) and has already matched his highest game total since 2012-13 (34).
Grade: C+
10-6: Role Players
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10. Patrick McCaw, SG
Patrick McCaw is one of the few Warriors trending in the wrong direction. After averaging 12.4 minutes in November and December, he's played only four minutes since the calendar changed. He can facilitate and shoot the three, but he's inconsistent with both. And his 103.9 defensive rating is highest among the regulars.
He's still ahead of the curve for a second-round pick.
Grade: C+
9. David West, PF
Credit David West for remaining relevant through his transition from former All-Star to reserve role player. He's never had a better shooting season (54.7 percent), and his passing is proficient as ever (6.4 assists per 36 minutes). That's enough to secure a passing grade, though he'd score higher if he provided more resistance at the rim.
Grade: C+
8. Ian Clark, SG
No one has experienced more exponential growth by the Bay this season than fourth-year guard Ian Clark. A full-time player for the first time in his career, he's striping both his field goals and triples at eye-opening rates (51.4 and 40.8, respectively).
"He's an excellent shooter, obviously, but he's really improved his in-between game," Kerr said, per Steward. "He makes a lot of float shots, puts the ball on the floor and he's a very smart player. We're thrilled with Ian."
Whatever the expectations were for Clark entering this season, he's long since sprinted past them. In addition to his fiery touch, he's more than doubling his turnovers (0.5 per game) with assists (1.1), and his matchups are shooting 2.3 points worse than they do on average.
Grade: A
7. Zaza Pachulia, C
Zaza Pachulia is neither a top-five minutes-getter for the Warriors nor a member of their famed Death Lineup. He is, however, the team's surprise leader in on-court net efficiency (plus-17.0 points per 100 possessions). His ground-bound game doesn't offer much in rim protection, but he's an active rebounder, clever passer and capable scorer underneath.
Grade: B-
6. Shaun Livingston, PG
Shaun Livingston is both the anti-Warrior and the perfect Warrior.
He's the only perimeter player who won't fire from long distance, but he's a hyper-versatile two-way weapon. He's absurdly efficient when he shoots (career-high 57.2 percent) and discerning as a distributor (1.7 assists against 0.8 turnovers). When he shares the floor with the core four, destruction follows at a rate of plus-43.3 points per 100 possessions.
Grade: B
5: Andre Iguodala, SF
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Something is going on with Andre Iguodala.
Statistically, the 32-year-old is almost unrecognizable: His points (5.5), minutes (25.1) and player efficiency rating (11.2) have all fallen to career lows. He's only once corralled fewer rebounds (3.6) and hasn't had a defensive rating this high since 2009-10 (107).
So, is this an actual decline or the costs of forward-thinking pacing? The answer is probably a combination of the two.
His legs have endured more than 36,000 minutes of regular-season and playoff action, and there's no way to roll back the odometer. That might explain the two-time All-Defensive selection's apparent regression at that end.
But it's hard to think he's losing a step when he holds the 20th spot in plus/minus (third among reserves). His genius-level hoops IQ combats any athleticism reduction, as his remarkable (and league-leading) 4.84 assists per turnover highlights. And considering his coach comes from the Gregg Popovich school of thought, it's reasonable to believe the Warriors are attempting to save Iguodala's best for later.
"Kerr knows that Iguodala’s performance level is not as crucial now as it will be later in the season and in the playoffs," Steward wrote. "The key is getting him there in one piece and in a good competitive place."
Grade: B-
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4: Klay Thompson, SG
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Klay Thompson's stat sheet reads remarkably consistent.
Since 2014-15, he's averaged between 21.3 and 22.1 points per game on 46.3 to 47.0 percent shooting. He's always good for about three-and-a-half rebounds and a couple of assists.
But dive into his game log and fluctuation starts to show. The same player who piled up 60 points on just 33 field-goal attempts has had 10 games with more shots than points. His three-point stroke is cooler than ever (38.3 percent, first time he's been below 40), but when it's hitting, it's molten hot (eight outings with five-plus triples, tied for fourth-most).
"No modern player is a manifestation of NBA Jam's 'He's on Fire' rule more than Thompson," ESPN Insider Micah Adams wrote.
Even if Thompson's human torch doesn't ignite, defenses know it could at any time. That means they have fewer resources to throw at Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry, who both shoot exactly 7 percent better with Thompson than without (55.3 from 46.3 for Durant; 49.6 from 42.6 for Curry).
Thompson's grade gets dinged a bit by his relative struggles from range, and the fact his defensive metrics have fallen (from 36th among shooting guards in defensive real plus-minus to 73rd, via ESPN.com). But overall, he's made a pretty smooth transition into the latest chapter of Dubs dominance.
Grade: B+
3: Draymond Green, PF
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The words often used to convey Draymond Green's importance come from an emotional angle—cliched terms like heartbeat and soul.
The fiery forward gives this group an edge, which it will need to survive gritty playoff battles. Even if his motor overheats at times, the Warriors can't afford him revving it down.
But cliche's are mostly necessary since describing his on-court responsibilities is almost impossible. He's a hustler at heart but also the club's most pivotal defender and often an offensive fulcrum. He might not score like a superstar, but his playmaking and jump shot can make high pick-and-rolls almost unguardable.
"He's just a basketball player," Durant said, per Connor Letourneau of the San Francisco Chronicle. "You can't label him as one thing because he does it all."
It's tricky to find the right numbers to quantify Green's impact, but these do a decent job. He's on pace to become only the fourth player in NBA history to average at least 10 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and two steals. He could also be the fourth to average two steals, one block and one three.
He switches through all five defensive assignments and still holds opponents 3.5 points below their normal field-goal rates. Almost every Warriors regular shoots better off passes from him than they do on average. And his all-encompassing 6.35 real plus-minus ranks fifth overall and tops on the superteam, via ESPN.com.
Grade: A-
2: Stephen Curry, PG
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Remember when everyone assumed Thompson would be the one to sacrifice upon Durant's arrival?
Turns out it was his brother in splash, instead.
Curry has lost almost three field-goal attempts a game, over five points a night and more than four ticks off his usage percentage (28.5, down from 32.6). But the cuts go beyond quantity. He's taken unexpected hits in the efficiency department, with his three-point percentage at a career-low level (40.1) and his PER the lowest it's been in four seasons (23.6).
"A juggernaut offense, a co-headlining superstar, and a sterling record have overshadowed the fact that we've yet to see Stephen Curry at the height of his powers this season," Sports Illustrated's Rob Mahoney wrote.
Curry is still a superstar, just not quite a supernova. One year removed from the league's first ever unanimous MVP award, he's barely a shadow contender for the current crown. He's outside of the top 10 in both points and assists, and he's not the team's high man in either category.
Criticizing him feels a little nitpicky since he's still the league's plus/minus leader and on pace for only the second season ever with 300-plus triples. But he's not only overshadowed by last season's performance, he's also lost his spot atop the franchise's hierarchy.
Grade: A-
1: Kevin Durant, SF
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Durant's move to his new digs almost qualifies as a best-case scenario.
The former MVP has never had a higher true shooting percentage (64.9) or a lower turnover percentage (10.3). He's utilizing every inch of his 7-foot frame to engine a career year in boards (8.7) and blocks (1.7) while slicing 2.3 points off his opponents' field-goal percentage.
"I'm trying to round my game out," Durant said, per CSN Bay Area's Monte Poole. "I (take) pride in guarding every position and jumping at every guy coming to the basket. Whether I get dunked on or not or finished over the top of or not, it's just muscle memory now to always get up there and try to protect the rim."
Durant's interior defense has helped the Andrew Bogut-less Warriors maintain a top-five efficiency ranking at that end. Durant is holding opponents to 47.3 percent shooting at the rim, a lower rate than those yielded by All-Star big men Marc Gasol, Anthony Davis and Andre Drummond.
But the one area keeping Durant from a perfect score is late-game execution. The Dubs don't enter clutch situations—final five minutes with a margin of five points or fewer—often, but when they have, their new star hasn't delivered. He's shooting just 7-of-25 in those spots (1-of-11 from three) and has only one assist in 46 minutes.
That's the final part of this puzzle to take shape and probably the toughest chemistry to form. And while it will need correcting before the playoffs start, for now it's nothing more than a slight stain on an otherwise brilliant year.
Grade: A
Unless otherwise noted, statistics accurate through Sunday, Jan. 8, and used courtesy of NBA.com and Basketball-Reference.com.
Zach Buckley covers the NBA for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @ZachBuckleyNBA.
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